Harper County is a county in Kansas, United States, on the Oklahoma border in the south-central part of the state. It had a population of 5,485 at the 2020 census and covers 803 square miles (2,080 km2) centred near 37°12′N 98°05′W.
Anthony is the county seat, and its postal code is 67003. The county has six incorporated cities, five unincorporated communities, and several historic ghost towns, all in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Harper County
Harper County has six incorporated cities and a handful of unincorporated communities and former townsites scattered across its farmland. Anthony and Harper are governmentally independent of the township system that covers the rest of the county.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony | City · seat | — | 67003 |
| Attica | City | — | 67009 |
| Bluff City | City | — | 67018 |
| Danville | City | — | 67036 |
| Harper | City | — | 67058 |
| Waldron | City | — | 67150 |
| Corwin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crystal Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Duquoin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Freeport | Unincorp. | — | 67049 |
| Runnymede | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Albion | Ghost town | — | — |
| Crisfield | Ghost town | — | — |
| Midway | Ghost town | — | — |
| Ruella | Ghost town | — | — |
| Shook | Ghost town | — | — |
| Yankton | Ghost town | — | — |
The old list’s “Hawk” does not correspond to any verified place name in Harper County records and has been dropped; the rest of the previous list carries over intact under its correct category.
Townships
Harper County is one of only four counties in Kansas with numbered, rather than named, civil townships. Anthony and Harper sit outside the township system and are excluded from these population counts.
| Township | Pop. (2020) |
|---|---|
| Township 1 | 1,000 |
| Township 5 | 463 |
| Township 3 | 394 |
| Township 6 | 296 |
| Township 4 | 232 |
| Township 2 | 144 |
ZIP Codes
- 67003 — Anthony
- 67009 — Attica
- 67018 — Bluff City
- 67036 — Danville
- 67049 — Freeport
- 67058 — Harper
- 67150 — Waldron
The remaining unincorporated communities and ghost towns share a ZIP code with their nearest post office town.
Geography
Harper County lies in the Wellington-McPherson Lowlands, a gently rolling stretch of south-central Kansas farmland drained by the Chikaskia River and the Bluff Creek watershed. Of its 803 square miles, 801 square miles are land and 1.5 square miles are water.
Harper County borders Kingman County to the north, Sumner County to the east, Barber County to the west, and Alfalfa County and Grant County, Oklahoma, to the south along the state line. Kingman County and Barber County both link to their own Towns & Villages profiles, as does Alfalfa County, Oklahoma.
Demographics
Harper County’s population was 5,485 at the 2020 census, a density of about 6.8 people per square mile. Anthony and Harper are the county’s two largest communities. Median household income in Harper County runs below the Kansas median of $70,333, consistent with the county’s agricultural, low-density economy.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives Harper County’s economy, with wheat, sorghum, and cattle ranching dominant across its farmland, alongside oil and natural gas production that has run through the county for decades. Anthony, the county seat, hosts the county government offices and Anthony Public Schools; Harper is home to Harper School District.
History
Harper County was named for Sergeant Marion Harper of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry, who died of wounds received at Waldron, Arkansas, in December 1863. An attempt to organize the county in 1873 was later found fraudulent; legitimate settlement began in 1877, and the county was properly reorganized on February 26, 1878.
Getting There
U.S. Route 160 crosses Harper County east-west through Anthony and Harper, while U.S. Route 281 runs north-south through Anthony. Wichita, the nearest large city and commercial airport, is roughly 50 miles northeast of Anthony via US-160 and US-81.
- Wichita, Kansas — about 50 miles northeast
- Wellington, Kansas — about 25 miles northeast
- Medicine Lodge, Kansas — about 25 miles west
- Enid, Oklahoma — about 45 miles south
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Harper County, Kansas?
It sits in south-central Kansas on the Oklahoma border, southwest of Wichita.
What is the population of Harper County?
5,485 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Harper County?
803 square miles (2,080 km2), including 1.5 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Harper County?
Anthony is the county seat and the county’s most populous city.
How many towns are in Harper County?
Six incorporated cities — Anthony, Attica, Bluff City, Danville, Harper, and Waldron — plus several unincorporated communities and ghost towns.
What ZIP codes are in Harper County?
Seven ZIP codes serve the county, from 67003 (Anthony) to 67150 (Waldron).
Why is it called Harper County?
It is named for Sergeant Marion Harper of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry, killed in the Civil War in 1863.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kansas.